Fluid valve



Febf 1v1, l947 J. E'. coLLlNs Erm. 2,415,417

FLUID VALVE Filed April 24, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l FLUID VALVE Filed April 24,1944 sheets-smi 2' Patented Fels.,` il, 1947 .lohn E. Collins and x Ohio, assigner-s to Valvain Corporation, on, hio, a corporation of @hic arles K. Morton, on,

l Application April Z4, 19de, Serial No. 532,39*?

The invention relates to valves for uid pressure 4 Claims. j (Gl. 25E-7.6)

' nular hired anges or abutments i5, itc, which" transmission lines, and more particularly to valves o the type actuated by reciprocatory motion ci a plunger. An object of the invention is to produce a valve oi the nature indicated, provided with a novel packing arrangement whereby said packing is permanently maintained under sealing tension.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a plunger valve which can be economically manufactured, and readily assembled or disassembled to permit repair or replacement ci the packing elements, whenever desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plunger valve design wherein the packing is maintained under tension, as described, and wherein wear and-tear of the packing elements is eliminated or reduced to a minium.

Another object or the invention is to provide a valve design wherein the transmission or inter ruption oi fluid pressure is accomplished by means oi an annular recess in the plunger, which recess is registrable with suitable ports in the valve body, the plunger being movable relative to paclrings interposed between respecting ports, said packings being maintained under spring tension.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of the following specification, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

l is a tcp plan view ci a three way, manuaally operatable valve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are longitudinal sectional views of the valve shown in Fig. l, showing, respectively, its alternate operating positions.

Figs. 4 and 5 are longitudinal sectional views or' another embodiment of the invention, showing a four way manually operatable valve in each of its two respective operating positions.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view, somewhat enlarged, ci a fragmentary portion of 5.

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary view, in side elevation, ci' e. slightly modled form of plunger, and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on the line @-ti of Fig.

Each oi' the valves shown in the several embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawn ings comprises a generally cylindrical valve body lo' provided with an axial 'aperture il within which aperture a cylindrical plunger l2 is re-s ciprocably movable.

4valve body are provided with screw plugs or caps provide a bearing surface for plunger l2. Endwise reciprocation of the plunger` is limited by engagement between the outer faces of said caps it and stop members on the ends of the plunger.

Said stop members in the embodiments shown in clude a disc washer il on one end oi the plunger,

retained in place by a lock washer it and headed stud it, while the stop member on the opposed end of the plunger consists of a flange it on a 'plunger operating knob 253.

As will be understood by reference to the drawings, lvalving action` is secured by endwise motion of the plunger il, in conjunction4 with the speclc contours of the valve body lil, and of the plunger.

Referring now to Figs. l., 2 and. 3, the valve body shown in the particular embodiment here lllustrated is provided with opposed ports it and 2t,

in communication respectively at spaced points with the axial aperture in the valve body. For convenience in making connections with the fluid pressure lines, ports 2t and it are bored in bosses all and '2l' respectively, and are internally threaded throughout a portion of their length to receve'conduits 2t and til. The plunger, at an intermediate location on its length, is provided with a necked portion 33 of reduced diameter, thereby providing an annular channel or recess which, in the plunger position shown in Fig. 3 simultaneously registers with ports it and 2t, thereby 'permitting fluid pressure to pass from supply conduit Sli, for example, to operational dis The opposed ends of the c charge conduit 2Q, and thence to a working cyl inde!l or other application. Movement of the plunger from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 2 interrupts communica= tion between ports 25 and 2@ by closing port it, but permits fluid pressure exhaust from conduit itthrough port 2t and along the recessed porla tion of the plunger through the opening in the annular fixed abutment ange l5 and thence atmosphere, or otherwise, as desired.

Endwise leakage of fluid pressure is prevented by a packing arrangement now to be described. By reason of the fact that the inturned, spaced annular xed anges l5 and ita extend radially inwardly into the axial bore il of the valve body, they dene between them, and between the plunger and the valve body, an annular space 35. At opposed ends oi'this space, and consequently abutting flanges land l, are flexible packing rings it and lil, U-shaped in section, and having their free edges inturned parallel to the plunger axis. Rings tt and 3l may be here termed outer packing rings since they prevent escape of fluid pressure to the exterior, except when the valve is open to exhaust. 'A third or inner packing ring 33 of similar nature is placed between rings 36 and 31 in such position that it lies between ports 25 and 26. Abutting respectively the free edges of rings 36, 31, and 38 are spreader rings 39, 46 and 4|, of metal or similar unyielding material, a face portion of rings 39, 46 and 4I which abuts rings 36, 31 and 36 respectively being beveled as shown so as to urge rings 36, 31 and 38 into snug sliding contact with the plunger and the valve body. A spacer and abutment ring 44, perforated at spaced points throughout its periphery, is disposed in recess 35 between rings 38 and 39, one

or more perforations being in registry with port 25, and a helical spring 45 is disposed between rings 40 and 4I, in registry with port 26. Said spacer ring, being of channel shaped cross section, affords a number of peripheral annular recesses 42 which are in registration with port 26 said construction permitting fluid iiow to and from port 26 respectively dependent upon the plunger position. Said spacer ring also acts as a bearing for plunger I2. The disposal of the helical compression spring is such that it exerts endwise pressure in both directions, parallel to the plunger axis and eective on all packing rings so that seating contact is maintained between the rings, and the respective contacting surfaces of plunger and valve body. Fluidpressure entering through port 25 has free access to that portion of annular chamber 35 which is occupied by,

spring 45 and said pressure augments the eiect of spring 45 in maintaining all packing elementsV under sealing compression.

The several elements located in annular space 35, including the packing rings 36, 31 and 38,l

the spreader rings 39, 40 and 4I, the spacer ring 44 and the spring are assembled or disassembled by removing bolt I3, washers I1 and I8, and cap I3 and inserting said enumerated elements into the valve body by threading them over the plunger. Cap I3 is thereupon screwed into position, thereby placing spring 45 under compression. The alignment of the spring with the packing rings, spreadcrrings, and spacer ring is bviously such that it not only adjusts or moves the abutment ring 44 endwise, but also causes the three spreader rings to urge their respective packing rings into sealing contact with the inner periphery of the valve body I6 and with the outer periphery of the plunger I2.

- 4 56, served by conduit 5l, the port being substantially centrally disposed. Two outlet or operational discharge ports 52 and 53 are in communication with conduits 54 and 55 respectively, each serving ann individual work source or power cylinder. The end cap construction, andgplunger stops, are similar to those already described in reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The plunger, however, is here provided with two necked portions 56 and 51. "I'he outlet ports 52 and 53 are disposed in spaced relationship, one on each side of inlet port 50, so that when the plunger is in the position shown in Fig. 4, port 50 is in communication with port 53 through annular recess 60, while port 52 is open to exhaust through annular recess 6I. In the position shown in Fig. 5 port 50 is in communication with port 52 while port 53 is open to exhaust.

In the packing arrangement shown in Figs. 4 to 6, four packing rings 63, 64, 65 and 66 are required, and consequently four cooperating spreader rings 61, 68. 69 and 10. Outlet ports 52 and 53 have movable spacer abutment rings, 13 and 14 respectively, in registrytherewith, and perforated to permit fluid power transmission therethrough. A compression,l spring 15 is cen- A sure is operative on all packing rings.

The shoulders 41 of necked portion 33v of4 plunger. I2 are rounded at their zone of junction with the cylindrical periphery of the plunger to eliminate wear and tear or frictional resistance when the limited movement of the plungercarries said shoulders past packing rings 36 or 38. When the plunger is in the Position shown in Fig. 2,` packing `rings 31 and 36 prevent endwise leakage of presto alternately serve two pressure cylinders (or other uid power work adaptation) pressurebef ing held `in one ,work line while the otheris open to exhaust, and vice versa.

Referring specifically to Figs. 4 and 5, thevvalve body is provided with a power inlet or supply port' 7 trally disposed and maintains the whole packing assembly in sealing condition. The shoulders dening the annular recessesin the Aplunger are rounded as-in the previously described embodiment.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the fluid pressure is at all times confined to, and directed through, the intended channels by a packingarrangement involving a centrally disposed helical spring which is effective to exert endwise pressure in both directions, which pres- The surface contour of the plunger is such that it is readily slidable from one operating position to another despite the pressure of the packing rings. A slightly modied form of plunger is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In'this'embodment the annularly recessed portion 33 (Fig. 2) is replaced by a plurality of slots or longitudinal grooves 18 in the cylindrical periphery of plunger I2. Whenv a plunger thus modified is substituted, for example, for the plunger shown in Fig. 2, one or `more of the slots 18 permit registry and comone or more other grooves permit fluid passage `v from port 25 to port 26 through the annular chamber 35. The lands or ribs 19 furnish a longitudinally continuous support for the packing members and the contiguous elements of the valve assembly.

What we claim is:

l. `Valve mechanism of the character described, comprising concentric radially spaced solid valve rod and tubular body members provided with two xed end abutments closing an annular chamber between them and with two movable annular abutments spaced from each other longitudinally in said chamber, a supply connection through the body .to said chamber between the movable abutments thereof, two operational discharge connections'through the body to said chamber, one beyond each movable abutment, the valve rod being provided with two reduced portions forming fluid conducting channels, `four annular sealing rings in saidchamber, all seating away from the supply connection, one vring adjacent each abutment, and a single spiral compression spring in said chamber between the two movable abutments and exerting pressure on all four sealing rings to prevent escape of uid past the same.

2. Valve mechanism of the character described, comprising concentric radially spaced solid valve rod and tubular body members provided with two xed end abutments closing an annular chamber between them and with two movable annular abutments spaced from each other longitudinally in said chamber, a supply connection through the body to said chamber between the movable abutments thereof, two operational discharge connections through the body to said chamber, one beyond each movable abutment, the valve rod being provided with two reduced portions forming iluid conducting channels, four annular sealing rings in said chamber, all seating away from the supply connection, one ring adjacent each abutment, and a single spiral compression spring in said chamber between the two movable abutments and exerting pressure on al1 four sealing rings to prevent escape of fluid past the same, said end abutments each having an opening concentric with the valve rod axis and forming both a bearing guide for a full diameter portion of the valve rod and an exhaust opening by cooperation with the fluid conducting channel of one of said reduced portions of the valve rod.

3. Valve mechanism of the character described, comprising a tubular valve body having a cylindrical bore provided with an exhaust opening at each end, with two lateral operational discharge openings spaced apart longitudinally of the valve, and with a single lateral supply opening between them, a solid generally cylindrical valve rod of smaller diameter than said bore mounted coaxially therein for longitudinal sliding movement, two rigid end abutments which with the wall of the bore and the surface of the rod close the end exhaust openings and dene an annular chamber, two movable radially perforated annular abutments in said chamber spaced from each other and from the end abutments, each of said movable abutments being located opposite an operational discharge opening, the valve rod having a central body portion of full diameter long enough to bridge the space between the two mov- -able abutments, said rod beyond each of said movable abutments also having a reduced portion forming a iluid conducting channel and beyond that having an end portion of full diameter, said valve rod being movable at will endwise back and forth between two positions in each of which one valve channel provides communication through said chamber and one movable abutment between the supply opening and one operational discharge opening while the other channel provides communication from the other operational discharge opening through the other movable abutment and past one end abutment to an end exhaust opening, an annular end sealing ring adjacent the fixed abutment at each end of said chamber, two annular intermediate sealing rings in said chamber, one adjacent each movable abutment, and a spiral compression spring in said chamber engaging both intermediate sealing rings and effective through the same upon the movable abutments and end sealing rings, thereby to form a tight seal at each ring between the wall of the valve body and a full diameter portion of the valve rod.

4. Valve mechanism of the character described, comprising concentric radially spaced solid rod and tubular body members provided with two fixed end abutments closing an annular chamber between them and with a movable annular abutment spaced in said chamber from one end abutment, a supply connection through the body to said chamber between the movable abutment and said one end abutment thereof, an opera tional discharge connection through the body to said chamber on .the other side of said movable abutment, the valve rod being provided with a reduced portion forming a uid conducting channel, three annular sealing rings in said chamber, all seating away from the supply connection, one ring adjacent each abutment, and a single spiral compression spring in said chamber between the movable abutment and said one end abutment and exerting pressure on all three rings to prevent escape of iluid past the same, said end abutments each having an opening concentric with the valve rod axis and forming a bearing guide for a full diameter portion of the valve rod, and one of said end abutments providing an exhaust opening by cooperation with the uid conducting channel of the reduced portion of the valve rod.

JOHN E. COLLINS. CHARLES K. MORTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,016,167 McCulloch Jan. 30, 1912 1,988,545 Donn Jan. 22, 1935 2,001,941 Rowe May 21, 1935 2,320,905 Bateholts June 1, 1943 2,071,204 Hunt Feb, 16, 1931 

